Desert Wines and Spirits

Saturday, January 9, 2010

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs 92264

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

We are going ahead with the Ramazzotti Vineyards wine event even though we were unable to get Joe Ramazzotti here at this time.  This is a shame because Joe is a very personable man with a lifetime of vineyard management and wine making experience.  Recently he purchased the old Bandiera Winery in Cloverdale, northern Sonoma County, not far from his Geyserville area vineyards.  All wine making activity will proceed from this facility.  His style of winemaking bridges the Italian and California styles and is artful in the manner of blending.
Next Saturday, the 16th, we will be joined by Sunny Grosso, California Sales Manager for Vine Connections, importers of fine Sakes.  She will answer any questions you may have had regarding Sake.  Several styles will be poured including the “Divine Droplets”, a Daiginjo and the best Sake I’ve ever tasted.
The following Saturday, the 23rd, Mark Sullivan of Regal Wines will be pouring some of his favorite California Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels.As I will be on vacation, there will be no further reminders.  Please make a note of any of the above events in which you are interested and, by-all-means, do attend.

2007 Ramazzotti Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley

List price 16.50; our price 14.25

This Chardonnay is made exclusively from 25-year-old Wente Clone vines grown on the Smith Ranch in Dry Creek Valley and farmed by Joe Ramazzotti.  It was all barrel-fermented, unrefined and unfiltered.  You can really taste the fruit in this Chardonnay.  It has a fresh, pure apply quality that comes from not being over-handled.

2006 Ramazzotti Sangiovese, Dry Creek Valley

List price 19.50; our price 16.99

This wine has a wonderful black cherry smell, and is smooth and velvety to the taste.  It has a full-bodied taste with a lingering finish which goes well with any meal, but is especially delicious with pasta dishes.  Silver Medal Winner 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Competition.

2005 Ramazzotti Ricordo Zin Blend, Dry Creek Valley

List price 24.00; our price 21.50

The 2005 Ricordo, which means “remembering” in Italian, is made in the style of the old-time Italian Field Blends from five different grape varieties.  They are assembled on Walling Road in the Dry Creek Appellation from vineyards that are farmed by Joe.  The blend is made up of Zinfandel, of course, along with Petite Sirah, Syrah, Alicante Bouchet, Carignane and Chasselas Doré (also known as Golden Chasselas).

2005 Ramazzotti Regale Red Table Wine, Alexander Valley

List price 28.00; our price 24.25

The “Regale”, or “gift”, is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Syrah.  This wine is big, beautiful and fruity, with hints of chocolate and violets. It won a Silver Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Competition.2007 Ramazzotti Raffinto Super Tuscan Style Red, Sonoma CountyList price 32.00; our price 28.50This is your ultimate feel-good bottle. Starting a journey composed of diverse delicious fruit flavors moving across the palate, this wine offers a clean nose with hints of raspberry and black cherry.  The Raffinto, “refined”, or “refinement”, is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Saturday, August 29, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

The North Coast Counties of California produce some of the world’s most elegant wines…and a lot of really fun wines, as well.  We have chosen for this Saturday’s tasting event a most entertaining sampling of precisely these kinds of wines.  We’ll start in Mendocino, and move on to Sonoma and Napa Counties.  The choices are of excellent value and two of these little gems have won some very prestigious awards.  Added attraction: once again we will be pairing our wines with the superlative cupcakes made by Sisters Cupcakes by Design.  Their visits have been remarkably popular.

Scharffenberger Brut Sparkling Wine, Mendocino
List price 18.99; our price 15.99
This Scharffenberger Brut is a blend of two-thirds pinot noir and one-third chardonnay. The predominance of the pinot noir creates a sparkling wine that is fruit forward with noticeable aromas of strawberry/raspberry and some plum notes.  The Chardonnay expresses itself with subtle tropical flavors of pineapple with pear.  All of the fruit for Scharffenberger Brut undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation, making the wine rich with complex flavors and a round, lengthy finish.

2007 Dry Creek Fumé Blanc, Sonoma
List price 13.50; our price 9.99
At first swirl, this Fumé Blanc presents intense aromas of lemon-lime, ruby grapefruit and fresh cut grass.   After a couple of minutes in the glass, more subtle hints of kiwi and guava begin to reveal a complex wine.  On the palate, it is truly delicious with excellent viscosity and length showing more fresh fruit flavors and very balanced acidity.  The Sonoma County Harvest Fair awarded this wine a Gold Medal, Best of Class AND the Sweepstakes Award for white wines.  It has been out of stock in Northern California and will be likewise here soon.

2005 Marcelina Chardonnay, Napa
List price 22.95; our price 14.99
Cooler Napa vineyards down near Carneros along San Pablo Bay give this wine its delicate fruit and acid structure.  The entire batch of wine went into French oak barrels for aging.  It is very pleasant on the nose, with flavors and aromas of apple, pear and citrus.  The oak influence comes up gently in little accents of sweet oak.

2007 Martin Ray Rosé, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
List price 13.50; our price 9.99
After crushing, the grapes (80% Syrah and 20% Grenache) were “cold-soaked” for six hours to concentrate the color and flavors from the skins.  The (“saignée”) juice was then drained off and fermented at cool temperatures with Rhone yeasts in stainless steel for 3 months, but received no malolactic fermentation.  This rosé has a vibrant raspberry color and fragrant aromas of tropical peaches, cherry and a hint of violets and vanilla.  Fresh, lively flavors of kiwi/strawberry, raspberry and cherry are abundant in this medium-bodied dry wine with excellent acidity and a nice, easy finish.

2005 Rancho Zabaco “Dancing Bull” Zinfandel, Sonoma
List price 7.99; our price 5.99
Dancing Bull is the lighter side of Rancho Zabaco: brighter, more fruit forward and the perfect quaffing wine.  It is big on black cherry and raspberry flavors which are tempered with the peppery spice that is Zinfandel.  At this price you can use it to put out the flames of the barbeque.

Trentadue “Old Patch Red”, Sonoma
List price 14.00; our price 11.50
This wine is a field blend of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 5.5% Carignane & 4.5% Syrah from Trentadue’s Geyserville Winery.  The bouquet displays jammy strawberry, cherry, earth, some spice and just a hint of vanilla.  It has a velvety mouthfeel and is quite extracted, but not overly so.  The big, dark fruit flavors are slightly sweet, with a little earthiness and some touches of warm spice.  The solid tannin core gives the wine body.  The Sonoma County Harvest Fair gave this wine a Gold Medal and the Best of Class award.  If you are interested in this wine, stock up now while it is still available.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,

760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

This week we are pouring samples of wines that arrived within the last week or so. There continue to be excellent values on the market and we will keep you apprised of them. Most of these are in the $10.00 range and under and indicate the wide range of quality wines that serve for everyday use or for party fare. Much of the remainder of our summer program will reflect the value potential of this price range.

2007 Ventana Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco, MontereyList

price 12.95; our price 9.99

Ventana’s cool weather vines produce fruit which creates a wine with a slightly grassy and citrus nose. The Sauvignon Blanc displays wonderful flavors of white peach, grapefruit and a touch of honeydew. The wine is completely dry with rich rounded texture and a flinty crispness. This is not a Chardonnay “want-to-be”; it is made in the classic French style for the best accompaniment to food.

2007 Congress Springs Viognier, LodiList

price 7.95; our price 5.99

This Viognier may not offer much in the way of complexity, but the delight factor runs quite high. It is fruit laden with obvious floral peach and green apple fruit that extend far beyond the bouquet, through the mouth and on to the long crisp finish.

2007 Ventana Chardonnay, “Gold Stripe”, Arroyo Seco, Monterey

List price 14.00; our price 10.99

This wine has lively tropical fruit aromas of pineapple and mango, with intense flavors of Gala apple, pear and lemon. Oak aging adds an accent of vanilla and light honey tones. The perfect balance of fruit, oak and acidity makes this an exceptional food friendly wine. Its versatility makes it work well with shell fish, all the way to pork roasts. It won a gold medal at the Taster’s Guild Intl’ Wine Competition this year and several silver medals elsewhere, as well.

2007 Château d’Aqueria Rosé, Tavel, France

List price 14.99; our price 9.99

Here is your opportunity to try one of the benchmark Tavel rosés at the lowest price seen in recent years. This is a spectacular price, as is the wine. I doubt that this price will ever be seen again for a current release. The qualities of climate and soil followed by a controlled vinification and experienced assembly of each variety make Tavel unique among rosés in intensity of color, body and bouquet. Château d’Aqueria is the quintessential Tavel; vibrant salmon-pink in color, with a penetrating fruit fragrance offset by floral notes. Bone dry, full bodied and succulently fruity on the palate, its lush intensity and depth are balanced by an extraordinarily refreshing acidity carrying into a long, crisp finish with vibrant peppery nuances.

2006 Chateau Trocard, Bordeaux Superieur, France

List price 14.95; our price 9.99

The Trocard family traces its winemaking history back to the 16th Century. They remain located close to Pomerol and St. Emilion. The nose of this wine shows red fruit, strawberry and blackcurrant. The aromas show some complexity which increases upon aeration. Its silky attack, fineness and elegance and its supple tannins make this wine very harmonious and well-balanced in the mouth.

2006 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

List price 16.00; our price 9.99

The rich, complex flavors of the 2006 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon reflect both the diversity and synergy of grapes grown in Sonoma’s soils and climatic regions. The expansive aromas and mouth-filling flavors of this wine are thick with dark cherry, cassis and smoky spices. The ripe dark fruit flavors, supported by velvety tannins, culminate in an elegant finish that lingers with bittersweet chocolate and spice nuances. Fine value!

Saturday, July 25, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Besides the fine wines being produced at Gallo Sonoma Winery, the parent company has purchased other California wineries and continues the tradition of making fine wines at these venerable properties, as well.  Most are recognizable, such as Louis Martini, Rancho Zabaco, MacMurray Ranch, Bridlewood Estate, Frei Brothers and Mirassou Winery.  We have received the latest vintages from these wineries and will be showing them off this Saturday.  Representing Gallo at our event will be Market Specialist, Debbie Pellkofer.  She is a font of information on all these properties and will cheerfully answer any questions while pouring some excellent examples of the winemaker’s art.

2006 Bridlewood Chardonnay, Monterey County
List price 11.99; our price 9.99
This aromatic Chardonnay displays ripe aromas and pure flavors of nectarine, Mandarin oranges and fresh apples.  Notes of vanilla and spice lead to a rich mid-palate structured with a lime and mineral finish.  Excellent value-priced wine.

2007 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris, Sonoma Coast
List price 18.95; our price 14.99
This Pinot Gris (or Pinot Grigio) possesses an expressive fruit-forward character, exhibiting rich aromas of fig and white peach.  The bright aromas and complex varietal characters of citrus and elements of spice add both weight and interest to the wine.  The flavors of peach, spicy pear and citrus are melded together in a rich core, resulting in a round mouthfeel which complements its crisp, clean finish.

2007 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir, Central Coast
List price 19.95; our price 14.99
Here is an affordable introduction to the cool-climate wonders of Central Coast Pinot Noir, specifically, the Santa Lucia Highlands.  It is a clean, red-fruited wine with hints of cola sweet spices that carry from the nose to the palate.  Also noticeable are elements of vanilla, clove, cherries and cranberries.  It is easy to drink and a bargain as well.

2006 Bridlewood Syrah, Central Coast
List price 14.99; our price 11.50
The wine opens with aromas of smoke, cedar, and chocolate leading to bright cherry fruit framed with spicy oak.  As it evolves, a nose of dark fruits and violet flowers gives way to dark chocolate.  On the palate, this wine shows rich flavors of blackberry, dark cherry and sweet brown spice with a hint of mocha.  It is full of soft, chewy tannins, proceeding through a long, clean finish.

2007 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
List price 14.95; our price 10.75
The nose is packed with layers of caramel, cinnamon, candy and hints of mint, with a prevalence of fruit over oak.  Also, there are sweet aromas of black currants, licorice, and cedar.  This is a spicy, full-flavored wine, with good body, fruit and firm tannins ending with an engaging, strong finish.

2005 Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa County
List price 21.95; our price 16.75
This fine Cab exhibits a deep garnet, color with intense aromas of cedary oak, currents and black cherries.  Concentrated flavors of ripe plums, chocolate and tobacco marry perfectly with the oak nuances.  It is a well structured wine that is balanced with firm, velvety tannins that culminate in a long, elegant finish.  It received a Double Gold at the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a 91 point rating from Wine and Spirits Magazine.

2007 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel, Sonoma Heritage Vines, Sonoma
List price 15.95; our price 11.99
Rancho Zabaco was one of the original Mexican land grants in Northern Sonoma.  This Zin specialist has produced a blend of 90.4% Zinfandel, 6.1% Petite Sirah and 2.5% Syrah that explodes with loads of ripe raspberry flavors; long and round in the aftertaste.  It delivers an abundance of black fruits and spice, demonstrating the classic and distinctive characteristics of Zinfandel.  The soft, plumy, and jammy flavors and textures make this wine not only approachable, but also versatile, allowing it to be paired with a wide range of foods.

2007 Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel Reserve, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
List price 18.95; our price 15.50
This wonderful Zin has a richly fragrant nose of ripe, sweet spiced blackberries, concentrated cherries and sweet stony minerals.  It is mouth-filling, ripe, and full, with concentrated fruit and very good balance for such a ripe wine.  It has a very long, spicy, richly-fruited finish, with a bit of gravel making showing through at the end.  There is a fair amount of soft tannins to add a bit of structure.

Saturday, May 30, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person

      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

We may specialize in California wines but it is always instructive to experience what Oregon and Washington are doing.  So, this Saturday we are pulling from recent arrivals and providing a thumb-nail sketch of varietals and styles along the Pacific coast.  All are different varietals with one exception: a red blend of five grapes from the state of Washington.

2007 King Estate Pinot Gris, Oregon
Regular price 17.95; our price 12.99
My favorite Pinot Gris from King Estate is the Domaine bottling which sells for over $20.00 and is spectacular.  However, the Signature Collection being poured today is no slouch.  Enjoying an 89-point rating, the wine offers a bouquet of ripe peach, sweet grapefruit, orange blossom and tropical fruit.  In the mouth, the wine is lively and tasting of citrus/tropical fruit, kiwi and pear.  The long, cool growing season allowed for balanced acid with a nice mouth-coating texture.

2007 Columbia Winery Cellarmaster’s Riesling, Washington
Regular price 11.95; our price 9.99
This wine is almost clear in color as Rieslings have very little pigment and are generally tank fermented.  The grapes for this wine were selected because of their higher acidity, which emphasizes the apricot, peachy flavors and creates a good match for strong cheeses, desserts or extremely spicy/Asian foods.  The aroma is floral with hints of peach, quince, lime and clove.  It has rich and full-flavored fruit on the palate and is balanced by refreshing, crisp acidity.

2006 Montevina Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Regular price 9.99; our price 7.99
This wine offers ripe cherry aromas, complex flavors, silky tannins and some age potential.  It is forward with wild currant and plum flavors as well as hints of allspice and dark chocolate on the palate.  Nice for the price.

2006 Napa Cellars Merlot, Napa Valley
Regular price 18.95; our price 14.99
Move south a little in the valley where the San Pablo Bay cools the vineyards in the afternoon and you have perfect Merlot weather.  The majority of this blend hails from these cooler regions in Napa Valley, such as Oak Knoll and Carneros.  This wine is classic Napa Valley Merlot with a deep ruby-red color; aromas of tart red cherry with hints of black tea and cinnamon-vanilla spice joining the supple tannins on the palate.

2006 Three Rivers Winery River’s Red, Washington
Regular price 15.00; our price 12.99
Five grapes formed this Columbia Valley blend: Syrah 48%, Cabernet Sauvignon 23%, Cabernet Franc 18%, Malbec 9% and Petit Verdot 2%.  It earned 89-points in Wine Spectator: “On the lighter side, but shows nicely focused blueberry and plum fruit, typical of Syrah with a bit more restraint, and firm tannins to lift the finish. Drink now through 2011.”

2007 Frei Brothers Zinfandel, Reserve, Dry Creek Valley
Regular price 19.95; our price 15.99
By 1895, Andrew Frei was producing 20,000 cases of high quality wine stored in huge redwood casks.  In 1903, Frei turned the business over to his two sons, Walter and Louis and the winery was officially named Frei Bros.  In the 1930’s, Julio Gallo entered a deal with the Frei brothers to buy all the wine they could produce.  Knowing the fine potential of the property, E. & J. Gallo Winery bought the winery in 1978.  The quality level has never wavered since.  Robert Parker rated the wine at 90 points: “A super bargain, the deep ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Zinfandel exhibits a spicy, flowery bouquet of blue and red fruits, gritty/robust flavors, abundant fruit, and an exuberant, lively finish with no hard edges. The alcohol is relatively restrained for a Zinfandel, and the wine is seamlessly constructed. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. One of the best value producers in the Gallo empire is the Frei Brothers Reserve.” (12/08)

Saturday, April 25, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

This Saturday we will once again be visited by a representative of importer Quintessential Wines.  Our host on this occasion will be Michael Vlasquez.  He will be pouring and discussing wines from France and Argentina, and, as the company represents some California wineries as well, we’ve chosen a big red from Sonoma County and another from Napa.  This event displays little rhyme or reason, just an appreciation of some fine wines and excellent values. 

2007 Les Jamelles Cinsault Rosé, Vin de Pay d’Oc, France
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
Les Jamelles has been producing handcrafted varietal wines in the Pays d’Oc, in the South of France, since 1991.  The Pays d’Oc (Languedoc-Roussillon), the biggest vineyard region in the world, boasts a wide range of geographic features, from the sunny beaches on the Mediterranean Sea to the plains of Béziers, to the banks of the Rhône to the Pyrenees Mountains. As in Burgundy, the region offers numerous terroirs and microclimates, allowing for a wide range of wines to be produced.  This rosé is made in the saignée method from the Cinsault grape and features cherries, raspberries and orange blossoms yet remains fresh, tart and dry.

2007 Les Jamelles Pinot Noir, Vin de Pay de l’Aude, France
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
From the cool slopes of the Aude Valley comes this well made Pinot reminiscent of raspberries and prunes.  It has a lush roundness moving towards cherry notes and features a lingering finish of jam with a hint of anise.  It is a versatile wine for service with chicken, game, duck and pork.

2008 Elsa Bianchi Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
The classic Malbec aromas of ripe plum and violets are evident in the nose, along with hints of vanilla. The beauty of the Malbec in Argentina is its ability to combine a rich, weighty mouth feel with a soft silkiness normally associated with lighter wines. Elsa Malbec takes the promise of the nose through to the palate, with pleasing fruit that mimics the aroma. The soft, supple palate leads to a lingering finish that cries out for more.

2003 Source-Napa Meritage, “Heritage Sites”, Napa V.
Regular price 38.00 Our price 29.50
Partners Bill Davies and Tom Gamble met on the first day of nursery school in the Napa Valley in 1965.  On the label is a picture of the two boys at play at that nursery school.  Forty years later the two find themselves partners in a winery that produces Bordeaux styled wines.  The Davies family owns Schramsberg Vineyards and Tom Gamble’s family has farmed in Napa Valley since 1916.  The blend in this bottling is Merlot 74%, Cabernet Sauvignon 24% and Cabernet Franc 2%.  There is a sweet spiciness in the nose, and in the mouth there is lots of leather, cedar and oak to go with the red fruit.

2006 Eponymous Red Wine, Macallister Vineyard, Sonoma V.
Regular price 45.00 Our price 29.95
Eponymous means “one for whom something is named”.  When the Robert Pepi family sold their winery in Napa, the exclusive use of the name went with the winery; thus the name on this label.  The grapes come from a single vineyard, MacAllister Vineyard, near the ridge of the Mayacamas Range on the Sonoma side of Mt. Veeder.  The wine displays cassis, spicy oak notes, orange peel, slight camphor, raspberries and hints of vanilla and cloves as it opens.  It has excellent body and structure with the flavors following the aromas and added nuances of chocolate and allspice.  The mouthfeel has the elegance and balance that is the hallmark of a fine red Bordeaux blend with a lush entry and continuing through the mid-palate and on to a long, pleasing finish.

Valentine Bianchi White Wine, “New Age”, Mendoza, Argentina
Regular price 11.95 Our price 8.99
We asked Michael to repeat a pouring of this wine because it is quite charming.  It is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (50%) and Malvasia (50%). The fruit is hand picked followed by crushing, cooling of crushed grapes, and pressing. Fermentation begins by inoculating with selected yeasts.  Halfway through the fermentation process, the wine is centrifuged (spun) to halt fermentation, creating a slightly sweet, semi-sparkling wine. It exhibits aromas of fresh flowers and fruit, crisp, yet soft in the finish.  Try serving on the rocks with a slice of lime.

Saturday, April 18, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

This Saturday we are featuring an assortment of very fine Northern California wines at substantial discount; reflecting at the least a savings of 25%.  Three whites and three reds, all different varietals, will make up the tasting event.�
Next week we will once again be visited by a representative of importer Quintessential Wines.  There will be wines from France and Argentina, and, as the company represents some California wineries as well, we’ve chosen a big red from Sonoma County and another from Napa.

2008 Chateau Julien Pinot Grigio, Carmel
Special price 11.95
The winery began producing Pinot Grigio with the first Estate Vineyard harvest in 1998. It has been growing in popularity ever since.  Cold fermented using Pris de Mousse yeast and bottled directly from stainless steel tanks six months after harvest, this wine is consistently clean and straightforward upon release.  It is a pleasant fruit-forward wine with fresh melon and lively peach aromas to complement crisp citrus flavors.  Its full texture is ripe through the finish with good acidity and balance.

2007 Dry Creek Vineyard Fumé Blanc, Sonoma
Special price 9.99
At first swirl, the 2007 vintage presents intense aromas of lemon-lime, ruby grapefruit and fresh cut grass.  After a couple of minutes in the glass, more subtle hints of kiwi and guava begin to reveal a complex wine.  On the palate, this wine is truly delicious with excellent viscosity and length showing more fresh fruit flavors and a very balanced acidity.  This amazing wine won the Sweepstakes Award for white wines at the prestigious Sonoma County Harvest Fair.  Imagine this ten dollar wine outclassing all the great Northern California Chardonnays.

2005 Silverado Vineyards Chardonnay, Vineburg, Carneros
Special price 19.99
This is the second vintage for Silverado from this wonderful vineyard.  The winemaker created a food friendly Chardonnay by fermenting in stainless steel barrels and stirring the lees weekly, to retain freshness and build mid-palate texture.  Up front the wine shows apple and orange blossom aromas proceeding to vanilla and oak in the background.  Stone and mineral aromas echo on the palate.  The balanced acidity and a silky mid-palate lead to a zesty finish that leaves you wanting more.

2007 Ramsay Winery Pinot Noir, North Coast
Special price 14.99
The very excellent winemaker for this wine is Kent Rasmussen of Napa.  The Ramsay label is actually his second label but the wine in the bottle is a good indicator of what he can do with this grape.  The nose shows classic Pinot Noir notes of raspberry and cherry, with lots of earthiness and lovely toasty oak.  The mouth explodes with blueberry, Bing cherry, anise and toast.  Even more striking is the depth and richness of the mouth-feel. The wine is very fruity, with blackberry characters and a big, rich, tarry and solid balance. The warm mantle of oak is refined and quite opulent.

2001 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Special price 24.99
The history of Freemark Abbey began in 1886, when Josephine Marlin Tychson became the first woman to build and operate a winery in California.  The historic site where Josephine’s winery, Tychson Cellars, once stood is now known as Freemark Abbey. The 2001 Cabernet displays nuances of dark cherry and nicely-integrated oak with a background of black currant and cassis.  It has a very fruitful entry, is crisp, with a long finish, and promises a long life of enjoyment.

2006 August Briggs Zinfandel, Old Vine, Napa
Special price 27.00
Owner August “Joe” Briggs started out as a Pinot Noir specialist first at Alpine Vineyards in Oregon and then at La Crema in Sonoma County.  In 2002 Joe located a small parcel of land on the southern edge of Calistoga, and built a simple but state-of-the-art winery there that is his home today. This Zin is very fragrant with rose, perfume, and black cherry as well as hints of leather and cedar. On the palate it is flashy and expressive with flavors of wild berries, currant, and mocha. The finish is long and chocolaty.  This is classic California Zin from two old and venerable vineyards in Napa Valley.

Saturday, April 4, 2009
4 to 6 pm

$5.00 per person
      Home of: ExecutiveGiftService.com
611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite #1, Palm Springs, 92264,
760-327-7701, 800-925-0030

Founded as a vineyard company in 1973, Sonoma-Cutrer’s foundation was built upon a selection of several key vineyard properties in the marginal benchlands, hillsides and rocky foothills in what later became recognized as the Sonoma Coast Appellation, an area with long, even growing seasons due to the cool and foggy coastal climate.  Initially, the company planted several different grape varieties.   By the end of the ’70s, Sonoma-Cutrer’s Chardonnay grapes had a reputation for exceptional quality and were in great demand by premium wineries.  It was not long before the idea for a winery was floated and eventually built, under the guidance of some of Sonoma County’s finest winemakers and growers.  Ground was broken for a new winery in 1981.  Today, Sonoma-Cutrer’s flagship wine, Russian River Ranches, is the number-one-selling Chardonnay in America’s finest restaurants according to the annual Wine & Spirits magazine.  Lisa Wherry, of Youngs Market Company, and I welcome this opportunity to bring you this interesting side by side tasting event of this fine company’s wines.

2006 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Russian River Ranches
19.99
Russian River Ranches is a cuvée crafted from several estate vineyards, each contributing its own distinct personality. The gentle elevation, moderate temperatures and fine sandy clay loam of Vine Hill make it ideal for growing Chardonnay. Owsley Ranch stands closest to the Pacific and is influenced by cooling fog pushing through Bloomfield Gap each day. The soils at Shiloh reflect an ancient seabed and volcanic ash that changed the topography eons ago, while Les Pierres is situated atop an old rock quarry that imparts a flinty mineral character.  Vines rooted in clay at Kent Vineyard are cooled morning and night by fog, allowing for extended maturation, while the vines at the Cutrer Vineyard struggle through soils marked by the eruptions of Mt. St. Helena.  Pretty aromas of jasmine and rose petal give way to tropical fruits like pineapple and mango. Roasted hazelnut joins nougat and almond butter, finishing with a touch of lime and lychee. Medium-weight and clean with a wonderful acid backbone, the wine expands in the glass, offering up grapefruit, lemon, pear and kumquat with subtle vanilla bean and herbal mushroom.  The lingering finish displays hints of minerality, along with apple, lime and a surprising kiss of strawberry.

2005 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
23.50
Distinct aromas of ginger and lemon zest are joined by toasty coconut, melon and caramel alongside a mineral, flinty cedar chest oakiness overlaid by notes of honeysuckle.  Well-balanced with a solid acid backbone, the wine is rich and medium-heavy with a broad, yet firm, mid-palate.  The long, lingering finish displays a touch of spice and lively acidity.  Flavors of lemon, apple, pear, pineapple and cantaloupe, join a nutty, spicy, lightly oaky profile.

2004 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, The Cutrer
29.95
Planted on what was once an ocean floor, The Cutrer Vineyard stands hardly a dozen miles from the Pacific shore.  Intense aromas of ripe apple are dotted with cinnamon and clove, as hazelnuts bathed in cream join fragrant notes of acacia blossoms.  In the mouth, the wine is dense and concentrated, while simultaneously offering a softer, sensual side.  Flavors of baked apple appear alongside glazed pineapple and fresh tangerine, as a hint of clove entertains the taste buds.  The wine is in perfect balance given its backbone of acidity.

2004 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay, Les Pierres
36.50
Sitting atop gravelly clay loam in an ancient riverbed thick with cobblestone, Les Pierres enjoys a long growing season, allowing for full maturation and ripening, by virtue of the daily fog shroud from San Pablo Bay.  Full of deep, complex flavors that speak to the leanness of the soil, and the cool weather ripening and maturation, the wine displays distinct aromas of spice and lemon-lime over a pronounced flinty mineral backbone typical of the vineyard.  Signature flavors of green apple and lemon evolve to dried lemon peel and lime zest, while floral notes recall acacia flowers.  A broad mid-palate reveals a touch of spun honey.  Judicious oak aging and fermentation impart a hint of fresh-baked bread crust.  The wine’s structure is firm, focused and elegant, and the remarkably long finish is classic Les Pierres: tight, lemon-mineral, extending with great acidity.

2005 Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
32.00
This wine is not shy.  Aromas of black cherry and currants leap from the glass, quickly followed by notes of cedar and allspice.  A strong floral component marries the fruit bouquet, while leaving room for the subtle influence of the new French oak. In the mouth the first impression is all berries, with raspberry, blueberry and blackberry all enjoying a turn.